Bonus payout for the Darjeeling tea workers this year is still undecided as the prolonged shutdown in the hills has bolted the door for negotiations with the management, workers and trade unions.
“The bonus issue of the workers cannot be discussed among the stakeholders owing to the shutdown which started from early June”, Chairman of the Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) Binod Mohan said.
The companies, however, are legally bound to make the bonus payment despite the gardens remaining inoperational due to the shutdown, Mohan said.
There are about one lakh tea workers engaged in the Darjeeling tea estates out of which 55,000 are directly employed.
The entire Darjeeling crop including the premium second flush was completely destroyed and DTA had estimated that the loss would run into Rs 300 crore as 90 per cent of the produce was to be exported.
The Association has also sought financial assistance from the commerce ministry through the Tea Board to help the managements of 87-odd gardens to see through the workers’ expenses due to loss of revenue.
Meanwhile, bonus negotiations for the north Bengal gardens except Darjeeling started yesterday and will conclude today.
Mohan said that the bonus payout for Darjeeling and Dooars gardens were the same.